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A review by dreindig0
Crystal Boys by Pai Hsien-yung
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
For a book that seems to be as iconic as this is, it left me with some conflicting feelings.
I can acknowledge the thing that this book has done culturally and the impact it has had and yet when reading I found myself wanting something...more. The main theme of this book is family and while I think that explores this well it felt like that was all the book spoke about.
As a black gay man in his 20s, reading this, there is a part of the experience that isn't intended for me. While I expected and understood this, it left me feeling a bit out of place. For example, the book is filled with many cultural references, some to actors and movies of the time, and it feels like that by not getting those references, I'm missing out on an experience while reading instead of the references adding the experience of the text.
I can acknowledge the thing that this book has done culturally and the impact it has had and yet when reading I found myself wanting something...more. The main theme of this book is family and while I think that explores this well it felt like that was all the book spoke about.
As a black gay man in his 20s, reading this, there is a part of the experience that isn't intended for me. While I expected and understood this, it left me feeling a bit out of place. For example, the book is filled with many cultural references, some to actors and movies of the time, and it feels like that by not getting those references, I'm missing out on an experience while reading instead of the references adding the experience of the text.